Combined sea anchor and boat stabilizer



Nov. 10, 1959 A. J. HARRIS COMBINED SEA ANCHOR AND BOAT STABILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1957 Asa J. Harris II'I'I'IIIIII'IIIIIII.

INVENTOR. 4063':-

BY QM WM ZYM COMBINED SEA ANCHOR AND BOAT STABILIZER Filed Aug. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 %fii;,

W Y 1 W p. l i

Asa J. Harris Fig; INVENTOR.

mm BY W EMI- United States Patent COMBINED SEA ANCHOR AND BOAT STABILIZER Asa J. Harris, Miami, Fla.

Application August 30, 1957, Serial No. 681,349

8 Claims. (Cl. 114-126) This invention relates generally to a sea anchor and boat stabilizer combined, and more specifically to a combined sea anchor and boat stabilizer wherein the drag plate which acts as a sea anchor may be eliminated and a boat stabilizer used alone, such as for a small boat on a high sea where utmost buoyancy is desired.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a combined sea anchor and boat stabilizer wherein the boat stabilizer may be used without the sea anchor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a deep sea anchor which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and eflicient for stopping a boat in high water where it is undesirable or impossible to use the conventional type of anchor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a stabilizer which may be used to minimize the pitching and rolling of the boat when encountering violent waves, deep water, high winds, and other similar factors.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved sea anchor and stabilizer applied to a boat;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane substantially defined by reference line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrating details of my anchor and stabilizer;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 33 of Figure 2 illustrating the anchor and stabilizer in its lowered position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the anchor and stabilizer in raised position;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view also illustrating the anchor and stabilizer in the raised position; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the combined sea anchor and boat stabilizer comprising the present invention. This anchor 10 is shown mounted in a housing 12 which itself is mounted in the lower portion of a boat hull 16 or in the keel 14 thereof. The housing 12 extends upwardly into the boat, and comprises two side walls 18 and 20, a top 82, and two end walls 22 and 24. The lower ends of the side walls 18 and 20 have outstanding flanges 26 and 28. These flanges 26 and 28 have holes 30 formed periodically along the flange. Angle irons 32 and 34 are mounted on the lower end of side walls 18 and 20, each having one leg connected to the bottom of a side wall, and another leg which extends outwardly in spaced parallel relation to flanges 26 and 28 respectively. Openings 36 are formed in these angle irons in alignment with openings 30. Gaskets 38 are connected to the lower Patented Nov. 10, 1959 surface of flanges 26 and 28, so as to provide a seal as will be explained below. In the channel-like opening formed between gasket 38 and angle irons 32 and 34, is fitted the keel 14, which also has openings therein in alignment with openings 30 and 36. Bolts 40 are inserted through the aligned openings and nuts 42 secure the various parts together. Thus it can be seen that the housing 12 has been mounted into the keel 14 of a boat 16. As can be seen in Figure 5, a corresponding construction, including a second pair of angle irons 33 and 35, allows the end walls 22 and 24 to be mounted to the keel of the boat in the same manner, and the confronting surfaces of both pairs of angle irons form therebetween an opening 25 through the keel 14 through which the stabilizer 10 may be lowered.

The sea anchor and boat stabilizer 10 comprises a drag plate 44, a stabilizer 46, and a handle 48. The drag plate 44 is constructed of two flat plates 50 diametrically spaced and attached to a shaft 52. At the lower end of this shaft is a necked down portion 54 on which a base plate 56 is mounted. The shaft has a knob portion 58 which rotatably secures base plate 56 to the shaft 52. The base plate 56 is mounted so as to have its longitudinal axis coincide with the plane of housing 12.

Extending upwardly from the base plate 56 and fixedly secured thereto are two stabilizer plates 60, which are slightly spaced apart, as can be seen in Figure 3, so as to allow room for shaft 52 to rotate. Looking at Figure 6, it may be further seen that plates 60 are slightly offset from each other for a purpose which will be described below.

Another necked down portion 62, similar to 54, is located at the upper portion of shaft 52. A stop plate 64 is mounted about this necked down portion 62, in a manner similar to that of base plate 56 being mounted about necked down portion 54. Stop plate 64 is thus mounted so as to rotatably engage shaft 52, yet will always be located on the same position on the shaft. A bore 66 is formed horizontally through the upper portion of shaft 52 above necked down portion 62, and in parallel relation to the sides 18 and 20 of the housing. A hinged link 68 is secured to shaft 52 above bore 66, by means of a pin and slot 70 and 72 respectively. A similar pin and slot connection 74 and 76 respectively, pivotally connect the link 68 to the bottom of a handle generally referred to by the reference numeral 48. This handle is in the form of a longitudinally extending shaft 78, similar to 52, and has a handle bar 80 secured at its uppermost end.

A top 82 is secured to the upper edges of side walls 18 and 20, and end walls 22 and 24. The central portion of this top 82 has an opening 84 formed therein. Depending downwardly from the edges of opening 84 is a circular flange 86 which is threaded on its inner surface. to be noted that for a portion of the opening the side walls 18 and 20 take the plate of the circular flange. A stop collar 88 is threaded into opening 84, and its lower edge is approximately aligned with the lower edge of flange 86. Two slots 90 are formed diametrically opposite each other in the upper portion of collar 88. A key 92 which may be inserted into bore 66, is fitted into slot 90 when the sea anchor and stabilizer are in the raised or inoperative position, so as to lock the anchor to the housing.

The operation of this anchor and stabilizer will now be explained. Figure 4 illustrates the anchor in its raised position, showing the key 92 locking the anchor in its raised position by being inserted into slots 90 and illustrating the handle 48 depending downwardly from link 68 so as to conserve space. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, when the anchor is in its raised position stop plate 64 is in abutting engagement with the peripheral edges of collar 88 and flange 86. Now, when it is desired to lower the anchor, it is merely necessary to pull out key 92, pivot the handle 48 upwardly so as to make it in alignment with shaft 52, and lower the anchor through opening 25 and out of the housing 12. When the anchor is in its lower position, handle bar 80 will fit into slots 90 if the handle bar 80 is rotated 90. This rotation of the handle bar 90 will bring the stabilizer and anchor into the position shown in Figure 6. In this position plates 50 act as a drag, and so serve to anchor the boat and slow it down. Furthermore, when the anchor is in its lowered position stop plate 64 is in abutting engagement with the upper edges of angle irons 32 and 34. Furthermore, since the upper edges of plate 60 are always extending into the housing, even when the anchor is in its lowered position, the stabilizer will thus be locked from rotation. If it is desired to use the stabilizer without the drag plate, it is merely necessary to rotate shaft 52, Figure 6, in a counterclockwise direction and the plates 50 will lie in juxtaposition to plate 60 and thus the drag plate will be eliminated.

It may now be seen that I have invented an improved combined sea anchor and boat stabilizer which is an improvement over my combined sea anchor and stabilizer for boats disclosed in Patent No. 2,409,040. My improved anchor may be used either as a stabilizer alone or as a combined sea anchor and stabilizer. Furthermore, it is easy to operate and install, and is much more etficient than my previous anchor, since when the anchor is in its raised position there are no projections extending from the bottom of the boat.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,- and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sea anchor and boat stabilizer having an upstanding housing therefor, the lower end of said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured within an opening formed in the lower portion of the hull of a boat, said sea anchor and stabilizer being contained within said housing when not in use and comprising a shaft, a drag plate on the lower portion of said shaft formed integrally therewith, a base plate having the lower end of said shaft rotatably secured thereto, a pair of upstanding substantially vertical stabilizer plates fixedly secured to said base plate in diametrically spaced relation to said shaft, said shaft being mounted within said housing for reciprocating movement therein, lowering means connected to said shaft whereby said sea anchor and boat stabilizer may be lowered through said opening, means secured to said lowering means for effecting the rotation of said shaft and thereby the rotation of said drag plate in respect to said stabilizer plates.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a link pivotally secured to the top of said shaft, said lowering means comprising a handle pivotally connected to said link, whereby said handle may be moved from a position alongside said housing to a position above and in alignment with said shaft so that the latter may then be lowered from said housing.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said rotating means cooperates with said housing for limiting the downward movement of said shaft.

4. The combination of claim 3 including means on said housing cooperating with said shaft rotating means for retaining said shaft, and thus said drag plate in a rotated position perpendicular to said stabilizer plates.

5. The combination of claim 4 including means for retaining said shaft within said housing.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rotating means cooperates with said housing for limiting the downward movement of said shaft.

7. The combination of claim 1 including means on said housing cooperating with said shaft rotating means for retaining said shaft, and thus said drag plate in a rotated position perpendicular to said stabilizer plates.

8. The combination of claim 1 including means for retaining said shaft within said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

